When will they just go?

[FFC Mariner]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rees-faces-revolt-as-mps-get-nervous-over-sacking/2008/11/13/1226318837977.html

Political affiliations aside, why cant these people just f**k off - agreed, Libs may be no better but if Rees hangs on, they will lose power for a generation

Rees faces revolt as MPs grow nervous over sacking and cuts
 
NATHAN REES faces a revolt from Labor backbenchers over the sacking of the assistant health minister, Tony Stewart.

They are increasingly nervous about the implication of the sacking after Mr Rees warned he would dismiss all of his MPs if they acted inappropriately.

One MP said: "Does this mean we will get sacked for spilling gravy on our tie?"

Another said: "People are worried about what it means for everyone. Does it mean someone can make an allegation and that's it? It feels as if all you need is someone to make an accusation [to get you sacked]."

In a separate move, two Labor backbenchers, Paul Gibson and Barry Collier, publicly criticised the Government's cuts to the school transport system.

"This is the worst decision ever made. I will never stand for this," Mr Gibson told the newspaper Blacktown Advocate.

In yet another sign of a government in crisis, three deputy directors-general of the Department of Premier and Cabinet resigned this week in what is understood to be a protest at a restructure organised by the new Director-General, John Lee.

Mr Stewart said yesterday that he had received support from several Labor MPs after Mr Rees dumped him from cabinet following an investigation into allegations he abused a staff member at a charity function last month.

"I have strong support from a cross-range of members of Parliament who understand a number of things about this," Mr Stewart told radio 2UE. "They believe I have been pinged unfairly. They believe there's been an unfair process."

He said Chris Ronalds, SC, had interviewed him for about 45 minutes, the inquiry into the allegation had lasted only four days and no sworn statements had been taken from witnesses.

He said he had been the victim of a "political conspiracy" and vowed to clear his name in memory of his dead father.

Asked if he believed it would split the Government, he said: "I certainly don't want to see anything like that occur What I'm saying is we simply want a fair and transparent process."

Mr Stewart said he had advised legal advisers to start action in the Supreme Court to address the "denial of natural justice".

One of Mr Stewart's closest allies, the MP for Mount Druitt, Richard Amery, placed a question on notice for Mr Rees, asking for details of Ms Ronalds's investigation

 

[serious14]

*shakes head*

People continue to vote these clowns in..... not to mention this:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/secret-plan-for-return-of-red-rattlers/2008/11/13/1226318837907.html

"THE CityRail network is to be converted to single-deck trains - which could cost $5 billion in signalling work and billions more for new trains - despite a $9.5 billion contract for 626 double-deck carriages that are yet to be delivered.

Forty-four years since the first double-deck trains arrived in Sydney, the Transport Minister, David Campbell, has confirmed to the Herald secret plans to begin buying single-deck trains.

The first step will be to terminate all western line services from Parramatta at Central Station, forcing more than 40,000 passengers to change trains twice a day to get to and from Town Hall and Wynyard stations.

If the Government goes ahead, it will have to spend billions on new trains over several decades.

Extrapolated from the net present value of the current order for double-deck trains, the replacement of the 1600 carriages servicing the CityRail network would cost $9.2 billion. If the cost of finance is included, this blows out to $24.3 billion.

"There is a long-term strategic direction to start investing in single-deck rolling stock," Mr Campbell said. The plan would "assist in moving more people across the network faster by reducing dwell time [the time a train spends in each station], address capacity constraints and improve service levels on the RailCorp network."

While NSW plans to switch to single-deck trains, in Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France suburban rail networks are being converted to double-deck trains.

In Sydney, single-deck trains are synonymous with the notorious "red rattler", the noisy carriages that began to be phased out in the 1960s.

The plan surfaced in the same week the Government slashed $13 billion worth of new railways to the north-west and south-west of Sydney. It raises questions about how vital freight, inter-urban and XPT trains would squeeze into the network.

The policy reversal has been motivated by the same advice that prompted the proposal of the seven-kilometre, $4.8 billion CBD Metro as an achievable first step in introducing a modern subway system to Sydney.

Using the same rationale, all western line services would be converted to single-deck trains that would terminate at Central. Commuters would then switch to the new metro line at its terminus to reach northern parts of the city centre, including Martin Place.

The NSW Treasury is working on an estimated cost of $2 billion to convert just the western line from Parramatta to Central.

But the mini-budget revealed plans to take this strategy much further, in a decision at odds with the existing order for double-deck rail carriages expected to be delivered from 2010.

The strategy also runs counter to another budget announcement, the $370 million purchase of at least eight outer suburban trains, which are double-deckers.

Single-deck trains are favoured because they are quicker to load passengers and would need to spend less time in stations.

While this is true of the main city centre stations, signalling systems govern the distance between trains, and hence their frequency.

The mini-budget papers described the new strategy as a "low cost" way to improve service levels "based on gradual conversion of network operations to higher-frequency single-deck rolling stock".

Rail experts told the Herald the signalling work alone would cost $5 billion. There are also questions about who would do the work. The Rail Clearways program has been hampered by a chronic shortage of skilled staff.

The Auditor-General says RailCorp needs 16 specialist signal engineers to complete current work, but it has only three permanent signal engineers on its books."

And how could I forget the utter stupidity/inanity/waste of money/waste of time/nanny state bullshit that is Krudd's interweb filter.  It's not okay for China to censor their internet, but we're allowed to with impunity?? 

 

[Capn Gus Bloodbeard]

*shakes head*

People continue to vote these clowns in..... not to mention this:

Who else are we going to vote for?

I don't even know who the opposition leader is. 
NSW needs leadership.  Labor aren't offering it, so it's  a perfect time for Liberal to step up to the plate and show us they're capable of leadership.  However, we don't seem to be hearing a peep out of them....

NSW simply has no options.  There is no party capable of leading this state. 

 

[FFC Mariner]

Thats not really fair, Barry O'Farrell has been on Sydney talkback almost hourly for the entire week.

 

[Redline]

Great if you're in Sydney..oh wait..NSW stands for Newcastle Sydney Wollongong...screw the rest of the state...we don't exist.

 

[Capn Gus Bloodbeard]

Who listens to talkback radio?
The various forms of printed news reach more people - Libs should be making sure their voice is heard.

Labor may as well be the only political party in NSW. 

I guess the other political groups have a heavy part in the blame of Labor's lack of accountability - which explains their corruption, incompetence and utter contempt for the people of NSW.

I'm a Labor man, but these clowns were right at the bottom of my list last election. 

 

[Jolly_Roger]

These guys should fall on their sword and call an election. They are a joke beyond belief.

Does anyone know at what point the governor general can call and election?

I am really pissed off with these guys. I hope somehow an earlier election is called. I would feel like i am putting the boot into the labor parties ass when i drop my ballet paper into the box. I am that passionate about it. I hope these clowns are decimated at the next election.

 

[Redline]

THey can't not be. They're incompetence is beyond belief.q

 

[FFC Mariner]

NSW Governor can dismiss if they do something illegal or unconstitutional - other than that, can do nothing.

They can vote themselves out but you really think thats likely?

I reckon the only way there could be a vote of no confidence that gets up is if a few labour members decide to bring the temple down around their own ears.

You'd want to be in a bloody safe seat though wouldnt you

 

[kevrenor]

NSW Governor can dismiss if they do something illegal or unconstitutional - other than that, can do nothing.

They can vote themselves out but you really think thats likely?

I reckon the only way there could be a vote of no confidence that gets up is if a few labour members decide to bring the temple down around their own ears.

You'd want to be in a bloody safe seat though wouldnt you

You don't know how farked the state public service is by the last 20 years of political partisanship, and how the best of the career public servants are leaving in droves to leave the top levels filled with managerialists, KPI fetishists, and wankers.

Putting the other lot, of hillsong and neo-nazi loonies, in wouldn't make much difference I am afraid. Even the Greens may be better. 

 

[dru]

Democrats ftw

oh wait, damn!

 

[FFC Mariner]

Greens eh? Legalised dope, no cars and lots of beads and kaftans.

sounds better already

 

[Rowdy]

Does anyone know at what point the governor general can call and election?

IF enough Labor MP's cross the floor  & choose to vote against (blocking) ANY bill concerning BUDGET (such as the current planned mini-budget), this automatically triggers a DISSOLUTION of Parliament..........and BINGO!!!....you get your wish of an early ELECTION

 

[FFC Mariner]

Public protest and a "general" strike is about the only thing that will bring about an election IMHO.

I remember seeing a Croatian comedian at CCLC one night (sorry cant remember who) and one of his lines was that his parents came to Australia because it was the only country in the world that couldnt be arsed to have a revolution.

Agreed, O'Farrell isnt the messiah but he doesnt need to be does he?

Rumours abound that Robbo is waiting in the wings and he strikes me as the ultimate ruthless c**t (as requested above).

A real bastard would get Rees out, have an election soon (that they would lose) and they might only be out for 1 term. Leave it the way it is and they could be out for 20 years.

 

[dibo]

Does anyone know at what point the governor general can call and election?

IF enough Labor MP's cross the floor  & choose to vote against (blocking) ANY bill concerning BUDGET (such as the current planned mini-budget), this automatically triggers a DISSOLUTION of Parliament..........and BINGO!!!....you get your wish of an early ELECTION

labor mps don't cross the floor. that's known as 'ratting' and brings on expulsion from the party. what that would mean is that the entire NSW ALP would split, a bit like victoria and qld in 1954. given that what followed was 20 years in opposition basically everywhere aside from in NSW, the ALP aren't about to do that again (though it was a closer run thing than many might imagine with the electricity privatisation stuff).

the party will ride out the term, rees (and the left with him) will cop the blame and we'll be in opposition until the libs demonstrate they've got no more answers either.

one party or another will have to bite the bullet and spend up. AAA credit ratings be damned, if they spend up they can sort things for the future and the economy *is* strong enough to carry the debt. good investments could boost the economy significantly and the debt will become easier to pay off as the returns grow.

 

[Auburn Mariner]

Rees has just over 2 years left. He should bite the bullet and let rip, have a serious go at fixing some problems and be creative, eg:

*Very Fast Trains (VFT) from Wollongong & Newcastle, like Gosford to Central in 30 minutes.
*the reintroduction of a mass light rail network in Sydney (Bondi Beach, La Perouse, Ryde, Haberfield)
*Build a massive, world-class international airport 5kms off Coogee. The technology exists, type in Osaka or Kobe airport on Google Earth. Make the new VFT from Newcastle & Wollongong stop at this airport
*Go after Formula One & Indy at an Olympic Park Street Circuit. We need MAJOR events in NSW, stuff the Victorians
*Finish the M4, and yes, USE EMINENT DOMAIN
*Join the F3 to the M2, EMINENT DOMAIN again
*Sell off Electricity, STUFF what the Unions say
*Do a London, charge ANYONE that wants to drive into the Sydney CBD
*Redevelop the Sydney Showground for a second AFL team in Sydney
*Do WHATEVER it takes to make teams 11 & 12 in the A-League NSW teams. Stuff the Victorians
*Decentralise more Govt Depts to the Central Coast & Newcastle. Public Servants mean MONEY & JOBS
*Unashamedly go after business from around the world.

Do what it takes, dare to be different, get us going again. He has nothing to lose.

 

[tuftman]

Rees has just over 2 years left. He should bite the bullet and let rip, have a serious go at fixing some problems and be creative, eg:

*Very Fast Trains (VFT) from Wollongong & Newcastle, like Gosford to Central in 30 minutes.
*the reintroduction of a mass light rail network in Sydney (Bondi Beach, La Perouse, Ryde, Haberfield)
*Build a massive, world-class international airport 5kms off Coogee. The technology exists, type in Osaka or Kobe airport on Google Earth. Make the new VFT from Newcastle & Wollongong stop at this airport
*Go after Formula One & Indy at an Olympic Park Street Circuit. We need MAJOR events in NSW, stuff the Victorians
*Finish the M4, and yes, USE EMINENT DOMAIN
*Join the F3 to the M2, EMINENT DOMAIN again
*Sell off Electricity, STUFF what the Unions say
*Do a London, charge ANYONE that wants to drive into the Sydney CBD
*Redevelop the Sydney Showground for a second AFL team in Sydney
*Do WHATEVER it takes to make teams 11 & 12 in the A-League NSW teams. Stuff the Victorians
*Decentralise more Govt Depts to the Central Coast & Newcastle. Public Servants mean MONEY & JOBS
*Unashamedly go after business from around the world.

Do what it takes, dare to be different, get us going again. He has nothing to lose.

+1

It pretty much cant be any worse then what it is. Providing the Liberal party have half a crack at the next election they should get in, so why not cut loose and try and pull the rabbit outta the hat.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Welcome back Dibo, wait till Rees and his bunch of f**kwits start affecting Krudd.........Dont forget, he has Julia waiting to knife him and NSW has the potential to bring Australia into recession.

Sacrifice this Govt and only be out for 1 term - alternative is oblivion

 

[dibo]

Welcome back Dibo, wait till Rees and his bunch of f**kwits start affecting Krudd.........Dont forget, he has Julia waiting to knife him and NSW has the potential to bring Australia into recession.

Sacrifice this Govt and only be out for 1 term - alternative is oblivion

i'm not back yet, i'm in barca at the moment but poked my head in for a peek.

i disagree with auburn on a couple of points, and none of that stuff would get past the first stage of feasibility studies before the term's up.

 

[Ranyen]

This is funny:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rees-below-a-brothel/2008/11/15/1226318995677.html

AN ILLEGAL brothel is operating in rooms above Premier Nathan Rees's Sydney electorate office.

When Mr Rees moved his electorate office to Best Road, Seven Hills, on September 5, he moved below the Tiantian Chinese Massage Shop.

The business describes itself as a therapeutic massage centre but when The Sun-Herald visited twice last week it was offered sexual services starting at $20.

Two of the parlour's clients confirmed they had sex above Mr Rees's office for $50.

A spokesman for Mr Rees confirmed yesterday his office had lodged a complaint with Blacktown Council, which has begun legal action to have the sex workers removed.

"A week or so after moving in, electoral office staff received a call warning them that the business upstairs was not all that it appeared to be," the spokesman said. "They checked it out, discovered it was an illegal brothel and notified the local council immediately. The council arrived straight away and the tenants were issued with a cease-and-desist [order]."

But yesterday the parlour was still accepting customers.

"It's a little frustrating," Mr Rees's spokesman said. "But it's now under investigation with the appropriate authorities. We are, in effect, just tenants and it would be inappropriate for us to come in over the top of everybody else."

Tony Kirby, who owned the property until last week, said he leased it several months ago "in good faith".

"The place was leased, according to council regulations, for general business use," Mr Kirby said. "I was told it was a Chinese massage place and I had no reason to suspect otherwise.

"Since then, the council has received allegations and complaints about something fishy going on. They rang me and said something illegal is happening in there. I asked, 'Why don't you evict them?' They said they couldn't, that it's not as easy as one might think."

Neighbouring shop owners and workers said it was clear the business offered more than relaxing massages.

A stylist at Lianna's Hairdressing, across the road from Mr Rees's office, said: "They have advertised in the adult section of the local newspapers."

Brothels and other businesses offering sexual services have been decriminalised for more than a decade. The industry is regulated by councils but, in recent years, hundreds of illegal operations have begun operating in suburban areas.

While the Brothels Legislation Amendment Act was passed last year to give councils more power to close them, Blacktown Council said it could still be a complicated process.

Council spokesman Leighton Farrell said: "We acted immediately after we became aware of it. We have since taken action under the state legislation that is available to us.

He also said: "The matter is currently before the courts and our understanding is that it will go back before there in early December. We want to resolve the matter as soon as possible but, regrettably, we can't do much more about it."